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Miracle League a model for new federal guidelines

Hayden Miller, age 6 is helped by his 3-year-old brother Braylen to hit the ball off the tee at the LeeAnna Grace Cunningham field at Sokol Park in Tuscaloosa. Townsend and other kids with disabilities play at the park as apart of the Miracle League of Tuscaloosa.

File | T.G. Paschal | Tuscaloosa News

By Andrew CarrollSports Writer

Published: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 11:32 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The Miracle League of Tuscaloosa, which uses a specially designed field, is a prime example of how sports can be tailored to the needs of disabled athletes.

Joanna McKinley, treasurer of the organization, said the baseball field, which is at Sokol Park North, is about the size of a Little League facility. It’s covered with a soft, synthetic surface that is wheelchair-accessible.

“All of our players have some kind of challenge,” McKinley said. “We have people playing from 2 years old to about 37. There are no limits to ability or age. We make accommodations so that anybody can play.”

McKinley said registration will be March 2 and the spring season runs from April 6 through May 25 with games every Saturday. She said the Miracle League has about 100 participants in the spring and about 75 in the fall season.

The Miracle League is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide children with disabilities the chance to play baseball. The Tuscaloosa chapter formed in 2007.

McKinley said she has read about the directive from the U.S. Department of Education that directs schools to provide sports opportunities for people with disabilities.

“We do have many kids who go to the schools in the area,” McKinley said. “Persons with disabilities, especially children, don’t get to have a regular childhood. They have so much stuff to deal with it matures them beyond their years. Just getting out to play baseball makes them feel like a child. Having the opportunity to be carefree, to be a child and get out and play, I think that enriches their lives. I think it’s really important.”

McKinley said her son volunteers as a “buddy” for the Miracle League players.

“Another asset of our program is that not only do they get to play a sport, but they also get to interact with other kids who have disabilities and others who don’t have disabilities,” McKinley said. “There’s a lot of mainstreaming going on. The buddies get to learn that people with disabilities are just like me. A lot of the kids can’t wait to see each other. The buddies want to come back because they made a friend.”

Buddies might be called on to assist a player who uses a walker or one who needs help swinging a bat. Whether they’re stationed in the infield or the outfield, the buddies also provide encouragement simply by cheering.

“Some of the kids actually hit it pretty hard,” McKinley said. “The bottom line is we want to get as many kids out there playing as we can because it’s more fun for them. We’re here to provide something for them, a game that we want them to come play.”

Tesney Davis and her husband, Greg, have a 6-year-old son, Clayton, and they adopted Krill, a 6-year-old with Down syndrome.

Krill is a player, and Clayton is a buddy for Miracle League baseball games.

“For us as a family, the thing we enjoyed the most about the Miracle League is that it allows Krill to be like every other child,” Tesney Davis said. “He is already kind of separated from other children because of his disability. I think the perception that people with disabilities are extra fragile is a big myth. Krill is like any other kids. He just learns a little bit slower and has to take a little extra time.

“I think Krill recognized the fact that he is getting a lot of positive encouragement from the coaches, the spectators and all the buddies out there. He loved that and thrived on that as most kids do. It means the world to us, the fact that he can play with his brother alongside him. Seeing Krill try his best and seeing him celebrate when he got to home plate, as a mom you get really proud because you get to experience that with your child. Without the Miracle League, it might not be possible for Krill to have that experience.”

Reach Andrew Carroll at andrew.carroll@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0223.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | The Miracle League of Tuscaloosa, which uses a specially designed field, is a prime example of how sports can be tailored to the needs of disabled athletes.</p><p>Joanna McKinley, treasurer of the organization, said the baseball field, which is at Sokol Park North, is about the size of a Little League facility. It's covered with a soft, synthetic surface that is wheelchair-accessible.</p><p>“All of our players have some kind of challenge,” McKinley said. “We have people playing from 2 years old to about 37. There are no limits to ability or age. We make accommodations so that anybody can play.”</p><p>McKinley said registration will be March 2 and the spring season runs from April 6 through May 25 with games every Saturday. She said the Miracle League has about 100 participants in the spring and about 75 in the fall season.</p><p>The Miracle League is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide children with disabilities the chance to play baseball. The Tuscaloosa chapter formed in 2007.</p><p>McKinley said she has read about the directive from the U.S. Department of Education that directs schools to provide sports opportunities for people with disabilities.</p><p>“We do have many kids who go to the schools in the area,” McKinley said. “Persons with disabilities, especially children, don't get to have a regular childhood. They have so much stuff to deal with it matures them beyond their years. Just getting out to play baseball makes them feel like a child. Having the opportunity to be carefree, to be a child and get out and play, I think that enriches their lives. I think it's really important.”</p><p>McKinley said her son volunteers as a “buddy” for the Miracle League players.</p><p>“Another asset of our program is that not only do they get to play a sport, but they also get to interact with other kids who have disabilities and others who don't have disabilities,” McKinley said. “There's a lot of mainstreaming going on. The buddies get to learn that people with disabilities are just like me. A lot of the kids can't wait to see each other. The buddies want to come back because they made a friend.”</p><p>Buddies might be called on to assist a player who uses a walker or one who needs help swinging a bat. Whether they're stationed in the infield or the outfield, the buddies also provide encouragement simply by cheering. </p><p>“Some of the kids actually hit it pretty hard,” McKinley said. “The bottom line is we want to get as many kids out there playing as we can because it's more fun for them. We're here to provide something for them, a game that we want them to come play.”</p><p>Tesney Davis and her husband, Greg, have a 6-year-old son, Clayton, and they adopted Krill, a 6-year-old with Down syndrome.</p><p>Krill is a player, and Clayton is a buddy for Miracle League baseball games.</p><p>“For us as a family, the thing we enjoyed the most about the Miracle League is that it allows Krill to be like every other child,” Tesney Davis said. “He is already kind of separated from other children because of his disability. I think the perception that people with disabilities are extra fragile is a big myth. Krill is like any other kids. He just learns a little bit slower and has to take a little extra time.</p><p>“I think Krill recognized the fact that he is getting a lot of positive encouragement from the coaches, the spectators and all the buddies out there. He loved that and thrived on that as most kids do. It means the world to us, the fact that he can play with his brother alongside him. Seeing Krill try his best and seeing him celebrate when he got to home plate, as a mom you get really proud because you get to experience that with your child. Without the Miracle League, it might not be possible for Krill to have that experience.”</p><p>Reach Andrew Carroll at andrew.carroll@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0223.</p>